July 17, 2026
The Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy (NSP) has clarified that Mary Habila, the 26-year-old health worker whose death has sparked nationwide attention, was not a registered physiotherapist.
In a statement released on Thursday via its official X account, the society said it carried out verification through the appropriate regulatory authorities and found that Habila’s name was not listed in the register of licensed physiotherapists.
According to the NSP, the clarification became necessary following widespread reports describing the deceased as a physiotherapist.
“Following verification through the appropriate regulatory channels, the name ‘Mary Habila,’ as stated, does not appear on the database of registered physiotherapists,” the statement read.
The association stressed the importance of ensuring that professional titles are based on verifiable records, urging public officials and the media to exercise due diligence before identifying individuals as members of regulated professions.
It noted that questions regarding a person’s qualifications should be resolved through the appropriate regulatory bodies rather than speculation or public assumptions.
The NSP also called on stakeholders to uphold the integrity of regulated professions, saying the public deserves accurate information while professionals deserve to have their qualifications represented truthfully.
Despite the clarification, the society expressed condolences to Habila’s family and loved ones, describing her death as a tragic loss.
The statement comes amid ongoing public scrutiny over Habila’s death on June 27 at accommodation linked to the Minister of Works, David Umahi , in Uburu, Ebonyi State.
The controversy over her professional designation follows Umahi’s recent clarification that Habila was a nurse employed by the David Umahi Federal University of Medical Sciences, and not a physiotherapist, contrary to earlier reports.
Meanwhile, police investigations into the circumstances surrounding her death are continuing, while calls for a forensic autopsy and an independent investigation have persisted. The exact cause of death has yet to be officially determined.
